Survivor Australia Winner Dies in Accident

My mother always used to say bad news comes in threes. It seems for this week it is true. First there was the death of Brumbies player Shawn Mackay, then came news that former cycling champion Jobie Dajka was found dead in his home. He was just 27.

Now the latest news is that former AFL player and the winner of Survivor Australia, Robert Dickson was killed in a car accident in South Africa. His five-year-old son Byron was also killed and his wife Dusty and son Gabriel, 8, were injured.

Even though I closely follow the AFL he was not a player I was familiar with when he showed up on our screens here in Australia in the 2002 version of Australian Survivor. It was through that series that we got to know him.

Dickson’s AFL career consisted of 17 matches for the Hawks from 1988-90 and two for the Brisbane Bears in 1991. He was an emergency for the 1989 grand final.

In more recent times Robert Dickson had turned filmmaker. In 2001 he produced and directed The Passion to Play and in 2004 he made Shane Crawford Exposed. His most recent documentary was The Essence of the Game which was shown on the eve of the AFL season.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said, “We’re all shattered by the news.

“Rob was a very creative individual and well known in the AFL and particularly the Hawthorn family. He has done some wonderful work and that will forever be a tribute to his professionalism.

“Our condolences go out to his broader family and our thoughts are with his wife Dusty and son Gabriel as they continue to be treated in hospital for injuries sustained in the accident and come to terms with the loss of their father, husband, brother and son.”

Dickson was on holiday in South Africa when the accident happened. He was due to join the AIS-AFL Academy team on its South Africa tour next week.

Leave a comment below if you care to share any memories of Robert Dickson.

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